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Taxpayers and assessors of property are entitled to the assistance of a qualified agent at any conference or hearing held pursuant to T.C.A. § 67-5-1501 et seq., or § 67-5-1401 et seq. Furthermore, taxpayers and assessors of property may appear in person, by qualified agent, or, in the case of taxpayers, by a member of the taxpayer's immediate family.1All conferences or hearings will be conducted in an informal manner where the primary issue of the complaint, protest or appeal pertains to the grounds set forth in T.C.A. § 67-5-1407.2

The agent must register with the State Board of Equalization, pay a biennial fee of $200, and qualify on the basis of the following criteria: (1) four years of experience in real property appraisal and/or assessment valuation; (2) successful completion of at least 120 classroom hours of academic instruction in subjects related to property appraisal or assessment of property from a college or university, or from a nationally recognized appraisal or assessment organization approved by the board; and (3) passed the examination for Tennessee certified assessor as administered by the board. No person will be required to meet the additional registration qualifications required by T.C.A. § 67-5-1514 if the person registered or applied for registration prior to June 30, 2002. The board may, in lieu of the evidence required in T.C.A. § 67-5-1514(c)(2), recognize and accept certain professional designations which are awarded by appraisal and/or assessment organizations on the basis of qualifications at least equal to those set forth in the statute.3Additional registration requirements are set forth in T.C.A. § 67-5-1514(k). Agent disciplinary rules, renewal procedures and advertising disclaimers are set forth in T.C.A. §§ 67-5-1514(f) and (g).

The following persons are permitted to act, appear and participate as an agent for the taxpayer: (1) attorneys; (2) the regular officers, directors or employees of a corporation or other artificial entity; (3) a certified public accountant where the only issue of an appeal is the valuation of tangible personal property; and (4) any person who holds a valid registration issued by the board of equalization where the primary issue of the complaint, protest or appeal pertains to the grounds set forth in T.C.A. § 67-5-1407.4The provisions of T.C.A. § 67-5-1514 regarding registered agents do not apply in any manner to the representation of a taxpayer by an attorney. Furthermore, no provision in T.C.A. § 67-5-1514 is intended to require that a person must be an attorney, certified public accountant, registered agent with the state board, or otherwise in order to act as an agent for a taxpayer before a county board of equalization.5

1T.C.A. § 67-5-1514(a) and (b). See T.C.A. § 67-5-1514(e) for list of persons who are permitted to represent the assessor of property before the State Board of Equalization.